Apparatus for dispensing and severing uniform lengths of tape



June 1958 E. F. EGER ETAL APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING AND SEVERING UNIFORM LENGTHS OF TAPE Filed 001:. 22, 1956 2 sheets sheet 1 I Q N h s I IIIWIIHIWIIHMW R 0 5 3 u E Mk0 NE a T wv J 3v L H J m. M m N\ l -I l Ph h: II IIIM 0 i AN 1 x E v? n m v il l J n l f in qwm 9 m5 :v 3v a mu 3r CA June 17, 1958 E. F. EGER ETAL 2,839,023

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING AND SEVERING UNIFORM LENGTHS OF TAPE Filed Oct. 22, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M VE/V 70/?5' 5651? //.W. Hnonmarr a i rte Edward F. Eger and Harry W. Heidergott, lndianapolis,

End, assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y, a corporation of New York Application (L'ctober 22, 1956, Serial No. 617,574

4 Claims. (Cl. 118-12) This invention relates to a'dispenser of uniform lengths of tape, and more particularly to a mechanical dispensing apparatus for intermittently advancing and severing uniform lengths of adhesive coated tape.

In both the manufacture and packaging of many diverse types of items, it is necessary to utilize uniform lengths of tapes coated with a tacky adhesive. Obviously manual measuring and severing operations of the tape is a time consuming process that more than likely results in the production of non-uniform lengths of tape.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a simple and economical apparatus for accurately and rapidly dispensing uniform lengths of tacky adhesive coated tape or sheet material.

Another object of the invention resides in a mechanical device for indexing uniform lengths of tape into position to be severed, whereupon instrumentalities are rendered effective to preclude a further indexing operation until the tape has been severed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for precluding operation of the severing device while the tape is being indexed into position to be severed.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention contemplates a drive roller device for advancing tape from a supply roll through an adhesive bath to a dispensing reel. The dispensing reel comprises a plurality of uniformly spaced arms radially extending therefrom, and each is provided with a relatively wide terminal area for engaging the adhesive coated side of the tape. A one-revolution clutch is provided to operate the drive roll and the dispensing reel so that the tape is advanced a distance equal to the distance between the terminal areas on a pair of adjacent dispensing arms.

Upon the dispensing reel being advanced, a severing device positioned in register with one 'of the arms is actuated to move through a slot formed in the terminal portion of the registered arm to sever the tape. As the severing device is actuated, blocking facilities are rendered effective to preclude further actuation of the one-revolution clutch. Whenever the one-revolution clutch is exercising a cycle of operation, the blocking facilities are rendered effective to preclude operation of the severing device.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a tape coating, feeding and severing apparatus embodying the principal features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view depicting the severing mechanism, and

Fig. 4 is a view of the trip mechanism for initiating a cycle of operation of the apparatus.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a base having perpendicularly mounted thereon a pair of support plates 11 and 12. The plate 11 has mounted thereice Patented June 17, 1958 in an arbor 13 for rotatably mounting a supply reel of tape 14. This tape may be composed of cellulose acetate or any other material that is desired to be coated with an adhesive compound and severed into uniform lengths. Positioned adjacent to the supply reel is rotatably mounted guide roller 16 for guiding the tape through an adhesive bath contained in a reservoir 17. The reservoir 17 is supported on a parallel link device 18 for adjusting the position of the reservoir, and hence the surface of the adhesive compound contained therein with respect to the tape 14 passing over the guide roller 16. Tension is maintained on the tape so that the relatively low viscosity adhesive compound cannot flow between the guide roller 16 and the tape; thus only the exposed side of the tape is coated. Excess adhesive is removed from the underside of the'tape by means of a doctor blade 19.

The tape is advanced by a positive driven roller 21 that cooperates with a rubber covered driver roller 22. Rollers 16, 21 and 22 are mounted on shafts 23, 24 and 26 that are rotatably mounted in the plate 11. The tape 14 emanating from the rollers 21 and 22 is passed over a further guide and tension roller 27 and from there the tape is fed over four arms 28, 29, 30 and 31 of an indexible dispensing device 25.

The arms 28 to 31 of the dispensing device radially extend from a hub 32 that has a shaft 59 passing therethrough which is rotatably mounted in the plates 11 and 12. The arms have perpendicular extensions 33, 34, 35 and 36 that engage the adhesive coated side of the tape. It is contemplated that the adhesive contained in the reservoir be of a tacky composition so that the tape 14 will adhere to the extensions 33-36 as the dispensing device is indexed.

Referring to Fig. 2, there is shown a motor 37 for supplying rotative power to a shaft 38 that is selectively coupled to a shaft 39 through the agency of a one-revolution clutch 40. The clutch 40 is normally maintained disengaged by means of a holding pawl 41 (see Fig. 4) engaging a pin 42 of the release mechanism for the onerevolution clutch. Pawl 41 is maintained in position through the agency of a spring 43 which tends to urge the pawl into engagement with a stop pin 44. In order to release the clutch, a manually operated lever 45 (see Figs. 1 and 2) is depressed thereby imparting, through a shaft 46, a counterclockwise movement to a link 47 that has pivotally mounted thereon a rod 48 which in turn is pivotally connected to a spring-biased trip lever 49 positioned to engage and impart a clockwise movement to the pivotally mounted pawl 41. Movement of the pawl 41 away from the stop pin 44 releases the pin 42 to allow the clutch to transmit rotative power to the shaft 39. The shafts 39, 26 and 24 are coupled together by gears 50, 51 and 52, respectively, mounted thereon; consequently, rotative movement is imparted to both the rollers 21 and 22 to advance the tape 14 therebetween. Shaft 39 also has mounted thereon a sprocket gear 56 for imparting movement to a chain 57. A further sprocket gear 58 mounted on the shaft 59 is driven by the chain 57. Shaft 59 is keyed to the hub 32 and is rotatably mounted within suitable bushings fitted in the plates 11 and 12. Sizes are selected for the respective sprockets so that upon each revolution of the shaft 39, a quarter revolution is imparted to the shaft 59. Thus it may be appreciated that upon each depression of the lever 45, the arms 28 to 31 are advanced in a counterclockwise direction so as to occupy the position formerly held by the next succeeding arms.

When lever 45 is depressed, a linkage 61, 62 is actuated to impart a clockwise rotation to a bell crank lever 63 to withdraw a locking cam 64 formed thereon from engagement within a cam shaped slot 66 formed in a locking plate 65 mounted on the shaft 59. It will be noted that the cam surfaces defining the slot 66 correi the arm 28 to-3l be'tween each quarter revolution thereof.

The extensions' 33-to 36"are provided 'with'slots' 67, 68, 69 and 70 that run across the entire lengths thereof in directions parallel tothe axis of rotation of the shaft 59. Spaced'from and in registerwith the slot 69' is a circular cutter -72'rotatably mounted in a slide block 73.

This block-is 'slidably mounted-within plates 74 and 76 and ion a plate 77. "The plate '76 is provided with an elongated slot 78 through which extends an operating handle 79 connected to the slide block '73. The-plate 74 is provided with an aperture 81through-whi'ch a stop rod 82 'extends to engage'and hold the slide block 73. Stop-rod 82 is provided with a collar 83 that is engaged 'by a compression spring '84 urging the rod 82 to'move i into engagement with a lever'86" securely mounted to the shaft 46. When theoperatinglever' 45 is depressed, the lever=86 rn0ves in a counterclockwise direction to slide therod 82 toward the leftinto'position to preclude movement (t the slide clock 73 while the power is being applied to advance the tape 14. 'Whenthe tape has :beenadvanced and-the lever 45 restored to the position shown inFig. l, the rod 82 is withdrawn and the handle 79 may be operated to slide'the block 73to move the circular cutter 72 through the slot 69 to sever a section oftape.

'lnoperation of the apparatus the lever 45 is depressed to permit the one-revolution clutch 40 to operate andapply power to drive the rollers 21 and 22 to advance the-'tape'14 therebetween. The tape 14 is-fed off of the supply roll around the guide roller 16 and through the reservoir 17 wherein adhesive is appied to one side thereof. 6 In Fig. 2 there is shown a'compression springbiased plate 87 for holding the supply reel on-the arbor 13 and for applying a friction ring so astomaintain proper tension in the tape and prevent overrunning of the supply reel. When the lever 45'is depressed, the locking cam 64 is also withdrawn and rotative power is applied to the sprocket 58 to rotate the arms 28 to 31 through a distance-equal to the space between adjacent arms. Upon completion of a revolution of the clutch and a release of the lever 45, the slide block 73 is moved to effectuate a severing of thetape positioned in register with the severing roller 72. It will-be noted that when theslide block 73 is movedto the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, the lefthand extension thereof is positioned to the' left of the slot 81; consequently, upon subsequent operation of the lever 45, the rod 82 will be moved into position to preclude movement of the slide.

Upon completion of an indexing and severing operation, the attendant will reach up and withdraw the severed section of tape from the extensions 35-36.

It will be appreciated that the attendant cannot operate the indexed apparatus during operation of the severing apparatus, and that he cannot operate the severing apparatus during operation of the indexing apparatus.

It is to he understood that the described arrangement of apparatus and construction of elemenal parts are simply illustrative of an application of the principles of the invention and many other modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for metering predetermined lengths of adhesive coated tape comprising a multi-arm takeup device having areas on the extremity of each arm for engaging the tape, a drive means, a clutch mechanism for connecting the drive means to the takeup device, means for operating the clutch for one revolution, cam means controlled by the operating means for holding and precisely locating said takeup device, a severing device for shearing said tape, and means operated by said operating means during the single revolution of the clutch mechanism for precluding operation of said severing means.

2. An apparatus for producing uniform lengths of adhesive coated sheet material comprising means for rotatably mounting a supply roll of sheet material, an adhesive reservior, a rotatably mounted takeup device adapted to advance said sheet material through said reservoir to coat one side thereof, a plurality of arms radially extending from said takeup device having areas at the extremities thereof for engaging the adhesive coated side of the sheet material, each of said areas being provided with slots thereacross in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said takeup device, a severing device, means for advancing said takeup device to successively present each arm to said severing device, means adapted to move said severing device within a registered device for advancing said tape through said reservoir to coat one side thereof, a drive means, a normally disengaged clutch interconnecting the drive means and "the takeup device, means for releasing said clutch for one revolution, a severing device, means adapted to move said severing device to sever the tape on the takeup device, and means actuated by the clutch releasing means during operation of the clutch for locking said severing 'device in a non-severing position.

4. An apparatus for metering predetermined lengths of tape comprising means for rotatably mounting a roll of tape, a takeup device having a plurality ofevenly spaced radially extending arms each of which has a tape engaging'area at the terminus thereof, an adhesive reservoir, guide means for directing the tape through saidreservoir onto said tape engaging areas of the arms,

- clutch controlled means for intermittently advancing said "tape and takeup device a distance equal to the distance between two adjacent arms, means for operating said a clutch means, each area of the arm having slots formed References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,652,093 Coombes Dec. 6, 1927 1,905,899 Campbell Apr. 25, 1933 2,595,060 Dixon et al. Apr. 29, 1952 

